This page was archived April 2016 and has not been updated. It could still be a useful article and document to consider but please bear in mind that it will not be up to date in policy terms.

Many authorities across the country are working closely with communities supporting neighbourhood planning. Some local authorities are entering into agreements with Parish Councils and Neighbourhood Forums, clearly explaining the services on offer to communities and the respective roles of parties involved in Neighbourhood Planning. They are finding value in making very clear to communities what support that they can expect from the local authority, and often, what the local authority will expect from the Parish Council or Neighbourhood Forum.

These agreements can differ significantly in their scope and content but we have produced a model service level agreement that can be tailored to suit the needs of individual authorities and Parish Council or Neighbourhood Forum.